What do VW gain from Underestimating Performance?

[AAddict]

The July edition of Car and Driver stateside tested the GTI (Manual NON-PP) and got 5.6s to 60MPH and a 14.2 Quarter Mile 

[DougL]

The July edition of Car and Driver stateside tested the GTI (Manual NON-PP) and got 5.6s to 60MPH and a 14.2 Quarter Mile 

Yep and if you'd read the post before yours, you'd have seen I'd just posted a link to a scan of that article 

[Snoopy]

Not everywere has the same altitude or petrol quality

[Hobojim]

VAG rate their engines to the DIN standard which churns out a number in PS. This is then converted to HP. If an engine is tested to the ISO standard the number churned out is in HP. The standards are slightly different and DIN tests for the same engine will always come out slightly lower than ISO test. The tests have a standardised air pressure (altitude) and temperature ( somewhere around 20 deg Celsius I think ). So when you stick your car on the rolling road in -10 it will churn out significantly more HP as the charge of air to the cylinder is a lot more dense. The RR should compensate for temp and pressure in its programme. but a straight drag against the clock does not. Engines are all about chemistry!

[GolfTi]

 

Thanks guys, that explains a lot.

[Bill_the_Bear]

Has it been proven without a doubt that performance is greater than stated?

Yes, Car and Driver (a reliable American magazine) have tested a non PP version against a Ford Focus ST. Under 6 seconds (5.6). See here and zoom in if you have a mac...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?6055198-Anyone-see-the-GTI-vs-Focus-ST-shootout-in-Car-amp-Driver&p=82071829&viewfull=1#post82071829

Non-PP GTI beats the ST in 19/22 categories. 

[DougL]

Non-PP GTI beats the ST in 19/22 categories.

Actually 226 out of 240 points is amazing... sure beats the Focus into a cocked hat (202). I certainly respect what C&D say; they're the 'Merkin 9 (sic) equivalent of Car magazine. Fun to drive 23/25 (the Focus gets 24). I know which one I would rather have and I take back my post from another thread. I want my car NOW! (And to think what originally started all of this off was a test drive in a Suzuki Swift Sport (that was fun too!)

[Gung-Ho]

I'm wildly guessing here but could the conservative power figure be linked to insurance ie vehicles over say a certain power bracket are subject to higher insurance costs and thus keeping the power in a lower power band means that owners would pay MUCH less and would be more attractive to buyers???

Just a wild theory....

[Bill_the_Bear]

I'm wildly guessing here but could the conservative power figure be linked to insurance ie vehicles over say a certain power bracket are subject to higher insurance costs and thus keeping the power in a lower power band means that owners would pay MUCH less and would be more attractive to buyers???

Just a wild theory....

You may be right, but I've not heard this mentioned before.  Obviously they use the rates accidents occur in each vehicle, but they also use the cost it will be to repair so recently a lot of manufacturers have got cars into a lower group by moving the headlights back so they are less likely to go in a shunt, etc... hence the ADC is the big thing in getting into a lower group this time.

[monkeyhanger]

Maybe VW quote their worst case figures. I have seen very noticeable variety in my TDIs between a good run in and a bad one. Perhaps they quote power gained on a "straight out of the box" model, prior to any running in gains. Outright BHP/PS is not the reason for most to buy a GTI/GTD, so perhaps VW want you to be pleasantly surprised rather than moaning about underachievement.